Means and method of manufacturing interfolded pieces of cloth, etc.



I. E HELLER.

MEANS AND METHOD oF MANUFACTURING INTERFDLDED PIECES 0F CLOTH. ETC.

FILED OCT. 14, 1921, 2 SHEETS-SHEET l :Witness:

Jan. 30, .1923. 1,443,363

l E. HELLER.

MEANS AND METHOD oF MANUFAcTumNG INTERFoLDx-:D Pu-:cEs oF CLOTH. ETC.

F|| r-:D OCT. I4. T921 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 .rl-oberst, www* UNITED. STATES I l .19443,363A` PATENT `m l vISRAEL E. HELLER, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

vMEANS AND METHOD or MANUFAcrURING vIN'rnni01.13121) PIECES or CLOTH', Ere.

J 'Application iled October 14,' 1921. Serial No, 507,777.

To alzlnfwhomz't may concern:

Be it known that-I, ISRAEL E. HELLER, a

"citizen ofthe United States, residing at l fication. l

Buifalmin the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means and2 Methods of Manufacturing Interfolded Pieces of Cloth, etc., of which the following is a speci- VMy invention relates to improvements in methods of vmanufacturingand inter-folding. strips or pieces of cloth, paper or other material so that stacks or bundles of'interfolded" pieces may be placed in a container' and' one piece afteranother be withdrawn therefrom. v

Vihiley my inventionN may bev-*utilized in manufacturing similarly shaped pieces of paper and inter-folding them, 1t is especl ally designed'for manufacturing and interfolding similarly-shaped pieces of cloth `adapted for use in clothing factories, shirtl factories, and other similar establishments in whichthev making of garn'ients requiresl smallisimilarly-shaped pieces of cloth. Forexample, in 'clothing factories, pockets, pocket facings, and other parts .of a coat,

trousers, or lother garment are sewed in place by an operative, and I have 1n mlnd to arrange pieces for this purp'ose'ina sys'- tematic manner-so thatone after' another "can be taken up for use without waste -ofof the cloth `orother material'folded'afti time orloss of pieces.

' means for cuttingsimilarly-shaped pieces- One of the'fobjects ofmy vinvention `isA the provision ofimproved and simplified .from la roll or'v bolt ofy material and interi folding the same during thecourseof cutproduct.

ting such pieces. .l

Another objectof my inventlon 1s the provision of an improved'and simplified method pieces v of cloth or other materialfare'lslitted .tra/nsverse'ly, or sbstant`ially so,"thence lfolde'd and cut lengthwise to divide 'A the vfolded cloth' into narrow parts, @wherebyl smallA pieces are formed and arranged in stacksA l or bundles having alternate pietes lying. in

contact' with lintermediate pieces,` said intermediate pieces receivng'oppo'site ends of thet .alternate pieces between their' folded por.-V

ythereof "embodying my invention in some- Fig.. 2 is a sectional plan'u'view-.iof the vrand A methods for v'of v,the slitting device. i. Y

hfivev illustrated `two bolts .of cloth V"desig-rv tions so that one piece after another may be removed from each stack or bundle without dlsarranging the relation of the next piece to the succeeding piece or pieces in the stack or bundle.` l

`My invention consists in the means and means and in the arrangement ofv parts em 70 v ployed` to manufacture inter-folded pieces of material, 'and also in the novel method of `manufacturing the same, as willbe hereinparticularly -A after described andv more pointed out in the subjoined claims.

`In the drawingszl l Fig. 1 is a 'longitudinal section through a part of a machine showing the velements what diagrammatlc form.

same,"the section beingtaken through the slitting device. f

of cloth or othery material slit transversely orapproximately so, -in accordance with 'my' invention. ,I Fig. 4' isa perspective view 'of a .portion being slittransversely.`

Fig. 5 'is a perspective view of a portion of a stack or bundle of small piecesof cloth showing the ,result of my improved means manufacturing such a F ig.6 is a perspective view of a portion Figp is ahorizontal section taken on 1ne.7'-7,`Fig. 6. f` j f Y vFig.'v l8 is a detached perspective view of 'one of the pieces of` cloth separatedfrom the bundle of which it formed part.

In the `machine part of ymy inventlon I nated by the numeral v10, Iwhich are Amounted one above the other in any suitable-manner to permitthe slab ll-thereo around'which .the cloth is wound vto be rotated. vThe manner of 'rotating and supporting said-bolts of cloth` forn1s vno parts of my invention.

so K

Fig. 3 1s a plan View of overlying"pieces 8v5 11ol andfwhen cutting paper or other'material and interfolding the same ,in accordance with my invention, the paper or other ma-l A terial may be arranged in roll form preparatory t0 -passing the same through the ma chine. y y

For clearness, I have illustrated the cloth -as-it leaves the bolt 10 by heavy lines, as at with the table while the upper length travels in contact with the lower length for a 'short distance land is thence directedV upwardly andforwardly at an angle tothe lower in advance ofthe pair of rollers 13.' In a' length, as at 15, the change indirection of travel being provided for byv a gulde roller 16 positioned over the table afshort distance plane forward of the guide roller 16 isa Second guide roller 17, elevated from the I table 14, and over thisv guide roller the upper layer of .cloth is adapted to pass, itbeing thence directed downwardly and forwardly to and underneath a guide roller 18'. Both layers of cloth extend forwardly above the table, and a short distance in advance of the guide roller 18, a retainer roller -19 'is arranged. s 4 v V 20 designates `a reciprocating folder mem ber extending upwardly'through the table directly in advance of the retainer roller'19, and 21 is a second reciprocating folder member arranged above the table 14 and adapted to co-act with the folder member 20, which 445 fThe folder member- 20 moves upwardly latter extends upwardly through an opening 22 for-med in the table. The folder member 20 is spaced from the retainerroller 19 a proximately a distance equaling the -thieiiness of the two lengths or layers of cloth while the vfolder member 21 is spaced .from the folder member 20 a similar distance.'v

through the opening 22 in the tableA and carries the two lengths or layers of clothl upwardly` beyond the plane of the. retainer roller 19, while the folder member 21 moves downwardly and carries the two layers of cloth downwardly. along the front of Ithe folder member 20.

As the two folder members move away from the layers of cloth, suitable means not 55 embodiedin this invention, but commonly used, may be provided for advancing the folded portion of the cloth and'pressing the folds together in the manner shown in Fig. 4.

Situated between the rollers 13 and the lguide roller 16 is a slitting device 23, which may be raised and'lowered'in any suitable manner, said slitting device comprisin head 2,4 .in the form of a solid bar an a series of obliquely-disposed cutting blades 25 entered in depressions 26 formed in said vplaced so that thecutting edges of the cutting or slitting blades 25, when lowered, will pass through the' two layers of cloth 4and come in contact with the wooden or other member 29 insertedin the table to .preventv dulling of the blades.

' As clearly shown in Figs.' 1 and 2, the cutting blades slit the tw`o layers of cloth simultaneously, the slits `being arranged` in a transverse series,` each slit being formed Vobliquely through theclotrhand adjoining slits being preferably slightly overlapped, as

clearly shown at 32 in'Figs. 2 and 3.

The upper layer of cloth, by reason of its` being passed over the elevated 'guide roller 17, has at all times a stretch between the two guide rollers 16 and 18 which is longer than the stretch of the lower layer between said last-mentioned guide rollers, andthe two layers of cloth are again brought together at the guide roller 18, after being separated by the guide roller`17. The elevated guide roller is so positioned that the additional length ofthe stretch of the upper layer. eX- tending from the guide roller 16 to the guide roller- 18 equals one-half the distance between the slits formed in the layers; consequently, the transverse .series of slits in the upper layer of cloth become positioned midway between the transverse series of slits in the lower layer after the two layers come together at the guide roller 18, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The parts are so arranged and timed in operation that Athe folds made by the reciprocating folder members 20 and K21 will be along` the transverse'series of slits 30 of both the upper= and lower layers, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and vall slits will be at the inside of the folds, asbest shown in Figs. land 4.4

The two layers of cloth are advanced ina regular manner and the slitting device timed in operation to .slit them at regular intervals along the lengthsy thereof; the rotation of the guide rollers 16, 17: and 18 being also timed to assure the proper placing of the transverse slits in the upper layer centrally between the transverse slits of the lower layer. v l

y When the two layersof. cloth areslit transversely, or partly severed, as it 'may be termed, and folded, they will have the appearance shown in Fig. 4, embodyi along the transverse slits, bothl the slits of the inner and outer layer being at-the inside of the folds. The Vcloth thus arranged is then prepareds to be cut lengthwise along the lines 31, shownlbroken, in Fig. 3 and dotted what i may be termed a zig-zag fold, with the foldsl gether in one direction; in slitting both layl first-mentioned guide-rollers whereby the lstretch of one-layer of cloth between ,said two first-mentioned guide rollers is longer than the corresponding stretch of the other 'a slitting device having spaced slitting elements thereonl adapted to simultaneously slit the two layers of cloth, and means in advance of said slitting device for staggering the slits of said layers of cloth so that the slits of one will be positioned between the slits of the other. j

S. A machine of thecharacter described, comprisin a. table, l means for forming oblique sllts transversely in said layers of cloth at regular intervals, means for staggering the slits' of the upper layer with respect to the slits of the lower layer, and means for folding` said layers in 'zig-zag formd along the lines of said slits.

9. A machine of the character described, comprising mea-ns fonsimultaneously slitting two overlying layers of cloth transversely with the slits arranged obliquely in transverse series and overlapped, means for positioning the transverse series of slits in" one layer centrally between fthe transverse slits of the other layer, and means for folding the slitted layers of cloth4 in zigzag form with the slits of each layer at the inside of alternate folds. f

10. The methodof manufacturing interfolded pieces of cloth or other material,

which consists in placing two' layers of cloth one above the other and causing said cloth to travel in slitting the same transversely at regular intervals; in causing one layer of cloth to move along av longer course than the other between two points to stagger the slits of the two layers; in-folding the two layers along the slits; and in cutting the cloth longitudinally to form bundles or stacks ofa/ inter-folded pieces. K

11. The method of manufacturing interfolded pieces of cloth or over material, which consists in placing one layer of cloth upon another and moving said Vlayers toers of 'cloth transversely to partly sever lthe vsaine at regular intervals; in separating the two layers after being slitted-to cause one layer`to travelV over -a longer stretchv than the other; in bringing the two layers of cloth together withthe slits in each staggered; in folding the cloth along the transngthwise to provide stacks or cloth bundles of smallinter-foldedpieces. l Y l 12. The method of manufacturing linterversely slittedfportions; and in severing thev folded pieces of cloth or other material arranged in stacks or bundles, which consists in placingone layer of cloth` uponv another; in partly severing both layers yof cloth along transverse lines at regular intervals; in

sta gering the partly severed portions of clot of one layer with respect to the other,-

innfolding the cloth` in zig-zag form -along the partly severed lines, and in cutting the cloth lengthwise to form bundles of 'small inter-folded pieces of cloth or other mate- 13. The method of manufacturing pieces of cloth or other material arranged in stacks or bundles, which consists in placing one layer of cloth upon another; in trans-L vversely slitting the two layers of cloth simultaneously with unsevere-d portions at adjacent ends of adjoining slits, in causing 011e layer of cloth to move along al greater stretch than the other to -bring the slits'of one between the slits of the other, in folding the Acloth to bring the slits of each layer at the inside of folds, and to sever the cloth lengthwise yat adjacent ends. of adjoining 'transverse slits to form stacks or bundles of small inter-folded pieces.

14. The method of manufacturing inter-v folded pieces of cloth or' other material,

which consists in placing .one layer ofcloth upon another and moving the same; in sli,t

ting both layers' of cloth transversely to form transverse series of oblique slits at regular intervals along the layers with adjacent ends of adjoining slits overlapped; in

then positioning lthe slitsinfone layer mid'- way between the transverse slits of the yother layer; in folding the two layers -in zig-zag form to bring the slits of both layers at the inside of the folds; vand in finally severing the folded layers longitudinally along lines passing between the overlapping ends `of adjoining slits to form bundles of small inter-folded pieces. Y

15. In a machine for folding overlying strips 'i of material, the combination of -a4 support over which said material is passed, means for partly severing the material transverselyat intervals, and means for causing one of the layers to travelalong a greater distance ,than they otherbetween two points. 4 Y

In testimony whereof I aflx my signature.

ISRAEL E. HELLER.

in Fig. 4, said lines passing through the overlappingl portions of adjoining slits in leach transverse series and through the spaces 32 between said overlapping portions. vConsequently, when the cloth is cutlengthwise', a number of stacks or bundles 33 are formed, such as shown in part in Fig. 5. .When 'thus cut into lengths, the folded condition previously existing becomes an inter-folded'con dition in which one-half of each piece of cloth is folded between the two halves of the adjoining pieces' of cloth. In this manner la y large number ofrbundles 'or stacks of interytowels arranged within containers.

foldedfsmall pieces .of cloth are provided, which are adapted to be used within a container and withdrawn therefrom, one after another in the manner of inter-folded paper This will enable operators within clothingv factories and similar establishments to have the small pieces of cloth handy and permit the A,operator to withdrawvone after another, as needed, without opportunity of wasting any orlosing time in selecting a piece. It is of course understood that, bolts of cloth or rolls of other. material can be cuty to ,various widths and lengths and thatV stacks or bundles of-pieces of the kind mentioned may be formedv in different. sizes. and kept con* venientlyat hand within containers to be withdrawn, one at a time. v It will be clear A.from the foregoing description that the portions of the layers of cloth'beltween successive oblique slits .inthe length thereof and between the longitudinal edges and adj acent. broken or dotted lines 31, or between adjacent broken or dotted lines 31, will be formed into individual pieces, and as the slits of the lower layer of cloth are arranged centrally between the slits of .the upper layer of cloth, each piece `of cloth overlaps one-half of two other pieces and yis folded centrally between its ends, with the result that the pieces are inter-folded as shown in Fig. 5.

The overlapping ofthe `oblique slits of each transverse series assures a Acomplete severance'or division of the two layers of cloth,`both along the end and longitudinal edges of the smallpieces of cloth manufactured in inter-folded condition, and each .piece will or may have a small incisionl near opposite ends, -as at 34, extending from the longitudinal edges thereof inwardly, as shown in Fig. 8, but this incision will in no manner interfere with the proper use of the piece,"and while said incisions have no real advantages in themselves, they are the re- 'sult of the method of manufacturing the pieces and enable such pieces to be manufactured in. an inter-folded condition and inbundles or stacksv ready to be placed in con` tainersor be otherwise used.

I desire it to be understood that I donot wish to lay any claim to the particular man- Having'thusdescribedmy invention, what I claim is i 1. In a machine for folding overlying strips of cloth, the combination 'of a. support over which said cloth is passed, Imeans for partly severing the cloth transversely at intervals, and means for causing one o f l'the layers to travel along a greater distance than the other between two points.

2. A machine of the character described,

comprising a support over which two overlying strips of cloth are passed, means for partially severing the. overlying layers transversely, and means for causing one of the layers to travel along a greater distance than the other between two points -to ar# n rangey the lines of partial severance of one layer between the lines of partialseverance,`

of the other layers.

3. A machine of the character described, comprising a support over whichoverlying laye-rs of cloth are passed, means for transvensely slitting said layers, and means for` changing the relative relation of said layers 4 to bring the slits of one layer between the .slits of the othery layer while passingover said support. n v

4. A machine of thecharacter describxl, comprising a supportn over which two overlying` layers ofA cloth are passed, means for slitting said laye-rs transversely, means for separating the layers after beingslit trans-v versely and for bringing said-two layers together at a distant point.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising a table over which twooverly- `inglayers of cloth are passed, means for transversely slitting said layers at regular intervals, two spaced guide members retain'-v ing theJ upper layer. of -cloth against. the lower layer, and an elevated guide member in a plane between said two lspaced guide members, said guidel members being. ar-

ranged-to space the slits in the upper layer 'centrally between the slits in the lower layer after having passed said Aguide members.

6. A machine of. the character' described, l

comprising a fiat table over whichtwo overlying layers ofcloth are pressed, a slitting device for transversely slitting both layers of cloth simultaneously, a guide roller in advance of said slitting device, a second guide roller spaced from said 'first-mentioned guide roller, and a third guide roller in a different horizontalv plane than said two 

